Amendment 297

Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-297

GOV 297

Creating and Codifying Arts Laureates in the Commonwealth

Ms. Rausch moved that the proposed new text be amended by inserting the following section:-

“SECTION X. Chapter 6 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2024 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting the following new sections:-

Section 38A. (a) The governor may appoint a choreographer laureate of the commonwealth who shall be selected from a list of finalists to be submitted by the choreographer laureate nominating committee established in subsection (b). The choreographer laureate shall promote choreography and dance, elevate the dance legacy of, and current dance communities in, the commonwealth and choreograph performances for important public events and ceremonies. The choreographer laureate shall be appointed to serve for a term of 4 years and may be reappointed for a second term. A choreographer laureate vacancy shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.

(b) (1) There shall be a choreographer laureate nominating committee consisting of: the executive director of the Massachusetts cultural council or a designee, who shall serve as chair; the executive and artistic director of Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, Inc.; the executive artistic director of The Dance Complex; the executive director of The Yard; and a member of the Boston Ballet company to be selected by the chair. Nominating committee members shall serve without compensation.

(2) Not less than 5 months prior to the expiration of the tenure of the choreographer laureate, the nominating committee shall conduct culturally competent and linguistically diverse public outreach and seek nominations of potential candidates for selection as choreographer laureate. Each nominee shall be a current resident of the commonwealth for not less than 3 years who shall be experienced in the art of choreography and produced a body of choreographic work. Nominations shall include biographical information about the nominee.

(3) The nominating committee shall review all nominations and select 3 finalists based on the nominee’s overall choreographic excellence and demonstrated commitment to the arts. Finalists shall represent the commonwealth’s diverse dance community. The nominating committee shall submit the names of the 3 finalists to the governor not less than 4 weeks before the expiration of the tenure of the choreographer laureate or as soon as possible in the event of a vacancy.

(c) (1) The choreographer laureate shall be an honorary position and the person appointed shall receive no remuneration from the commonwealth. The person appointed to the position of choreographer laureate shall not be considered a state official or a state employee for such person’s service in the position.

(2) The choreographer laureate shall be entitled to reimbursement for reasonable expenses incurred in the performance of duties as choreographer laureate, not to exceed $1,000 per fiscal year. Dancers and support staff selected by the choreographer laureate for performances at important public events and ceremonies, consistent with this section, shall be entitled to compensation, as determined by the secretary of administration and finance.

(3) Annually, not later than February 1, the choreographer laureate shall submit a report summarizing their activities within the scope of their appointment to the executive director of the office of travel and tourism, the executive director of the Massachusetts cultural council, the joint committee on tourism, arts and cultural development and the clerks of the senate and house of representatives.

Section 38B. (a) The governor may appoint a musician laureate for the commonwealth who shall be selected from a list of finalists to be submitted by the musician laureate nominating committee pursuant in subsection (b). The musician laureate shall promote the musical arts, elevate the musical legacy of, and current musical communities in, the commonwealth and write and perform music for important public events and ceremonies. The musician laureate shall be appointed to serve for a term of 4 years and may be reappointed for a second term. A musician laureate vacancy shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.

(b) (1) There shall be a musician laureate nominating committee consisting of: the senate president or a designee; the speaker of the house of representatives or a designee; and 3 persons to be appointed by the governor, 1 of whom shall be a member of the board of directors of the Massachusetts cultural council. Nominating committee members shall serve without compensation.

(2) Not less than 5 months prior to the expiration of the tenure of the musician laureate, the nominating committee shall conduct culturally competent and linguistically diverse public outreach and receive nominations of potential candidates for selection as musician laureate. Each nominee shall be a current resident of the commonwealth for not less than 3 years who shall be experienced in the art of music and produced a body of musical work. Nominations shall include biographical information about the nominee.

(3) The nominating committee shall review all nominations and select 3 finalists based on the nominee’s overall musical excellence and demonstrated commitment to the musical arts. Finalists shall represent the commonwealth’s diverse musical community. The nominating committee shall submit the names of the 3 finalists to the governor not less than 4 weeks before the expiration of the tenure of the musician laureate, or as soon as possible in the event of a vacancy.

(c) (1) The musician laureate shall be an honorary position and the person appointed shall receive no monetary remuneration from the commonwealth. The person appointed to the position of musician laureate shall not be considered a state official or a state employee for such person’s service in the position.

(2) The musician laureate shall be entitled to reasonable reimbursement for expenses incurred in the performance of duties as musician laureate, not to exceed $1,000 per fiscal year. Musicians and support staff selected by the musician laureate for performances at important public events and ceremonies, consistent with this section, shall be entitled to compensation, as determined by the secretary of administration and finance.

(3) Annually, not later than February 1, the laureate shall submit a report summarizing their activities within the scope of their appointment to the executive director of the office of travel and tourism, the executive director of the Massachusetts cultural council, the joint committee on tourism, arts and cultural development and the clerks of the senate and house of representatives.

Section 38C. (a) The governor may appoint a poet laureate for the commonwealth who shall be selected from a list of finalists to be submitted by the poet laureate nominating committee pursuant in subsection (b). The poet laureate shall: (i) seek to encourage appreciation of poetry and creative expression across the commonwealth; (ii) attend public readings and other statewide literary and cultural events in diverse regions of the state; (iii) compose poetry for ceremonial occasions; and (iv) advise the department of elementary and secondary education on an outreach program for schools focused on the celebration and advancement of poetry. The poet laureate shall be appointed to serve for a term of 2 years and may be reappointed for a second term. A poet laureate vacancy shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.

(b) (1) There shall be a poet laureate nominating committee consisting of: the executive director of the Massachusetts cultural council or a designee; the executive director of the Massachusetts foundation for the humanities or a designee; the senate president or a designee; the speaker of the house of representatives or a designee; and at least 5 persons to be appointed by the governor, 1 of whom shall be a poet or editor of poetry, 1 of whom shall be a representative of a humanities organization within Massachusetts, 1 of whom shall be a representative from an indigenous community or Tribal Nation in Massachusetts, and 1 of whom shall be a scholar from one of the commonwealth’s public universities or colleges. Nominating committee members shall serve without compensation.

(2) Not less than 5 months prior to the expiration of the tenure of the poet laureate, the Massachusetts cultural council shall, on behalf of the nominating committee, shall conduct culturally competent and linguistically diverse public outreach and receive nominations of potential candidates for selection as poet laureate. Each nominee shall be a current resident of the commonwealth for not less than 3 years who possesses a substantial body of work and shall have demonstrated a commitment to promoting an awareness of poetry and literary excellence. Nominations shall include biographical information about the nominee.

(3) The nominating committee shall review all nominations and select 2 finalists based on the nominee’s overall excellence as a poet and demonstrated commitment to the arts. Finalists shall represent the commonwealth’s diverse poet community. The nominating committee shall submit the names of the 2 finalists to the governor not less than 4 weeks before the expiration of the tenure of the poet laureate, or as soon as possible in the event of a vacancy.

(c) (1) The poet laureate shall be an honorary position and the person appointed shall receive no monetary remuneration from the commonwealth. The person appointed to the position of poet laureate shall not be considered a state official or a state employee for such person’s service in the position.

(2) The poet laureate shall be entitled to reasonable reimbursement for expenses incurred in the performance of duties as poet laureate, not to exceed $1,000 per fiscal year. Support staff selected by the poet laureate for performances at important public events and ceremonies, consistent with this section, shall be entitled to compensation, as determined by the secretary of administration and finance.